Um, I guess I’m back from my unscheduled and rather unproductive sabbatical from this space. 

This afternoon I suddenly had the strong urge to blog – prompted by an elevating of mood having seen the latest from Francoise Ozon and a lost, restored classic by Lucchino Visconti. 

Its not that the thought of updating hasn’t crossed my mind over the last few months, but I figured other folk were doing much better jobs with their sites and also I have come to the realization that I’m more apt to contribute – when I’m just surging to express and vent and define myself – during those times when I’m chained to a desk and have to look busy in an uncomfortable work environment.  And I’ve been feeling recently that there’s really not much that I can say…

Which I haven’t been all year, picking up freelance work here and there and going to school, but as friends and family can attest, I’ve certainly been living in my own planet these days.

Life in DC has been an overwhelming fug as of late for me – and the oppressive summers we get here do nothing to add to my enthusiasm.  This state has been lifted periodically by welcomed houseguests here at Casa Skunkeye – including a blessed reunion with the notorious Kitty Go – and frequent sojourns to the Beach House, as well as great times in Baltimore and Philly.  I’ve also been the neighborhood lunatic alley gardener – and sadly I haven’t taken any pictures – my area was looking spectacular until June when those crazy, endless rains hit, to recover after a lot of hard work only to be stunted by housemate neglect when I was out of town, drought and blazing heat, and now the new school of teenage rats, whose rampages and destruction are clearly in defiance of their better informed parents.  I did manage to swing one dinner large dinner party using vegetables that I grew – tomatoes, squash, basil, cilantro – and the roses for the most part are doing fine.  See, I’ve been a total bore lately!

And, seriously, I haven’t bought any new music lately and it really has been a crap period for film, so it’s not like I had all that much to write about. 

However, in a nutshell, and to get up-to-date (I’m a bit compulsive about marking significant cultural experiences, having updated my calendar/diary religiously for years – a habit I acquired from my grandmother):

• The Hirshhorn- the recent Hiroshi Sugimoto (and partnering show at the Freer/Sackler) and ongoing Anselm Keifer retrospectives have been absolutely sublime- spiritual, almost – and reflect the institution’s pre-eminence as the most relevant place for art in DC.
• I’m so grateful the National Portrait Gallery/Museum of American Art has finally re-opened after nearly a decade of renovations!  What, it’s been about a month and half now… visited nearly a dozen times already; by myself, with guests, and for the amazing William Christenberry opening.  Visitors need to schedule a whole day to explore this treasure and resource!
• Olivier Assayas’ swan-song to ex-wife and star Maggie Cheung, Clean, hit all the right chords with me…
• I have the best secret crack sandwich – um, Vietnamese banh mi – dealer in changing Chinatown.  The pho is top-rate too and the prices are absolutely third world comparable.  Email me for details.
• The Corcoran has finally gotten its shit together and redefined:Modern and Contemporary Art from the Collection is a much-needed shot in the arm for a once vital institution whose programming had become a bit Disneyland and staid in its now discarded aims for Gehry addition funding. 
• Unemployed, freelancers, those who can tune in at 11 am weekdays, The View has been muy dramatic television – Viera’s defection, Star’s spectacular hubris and siwashing, and the unhinging of naively right-wing Hasselbeck has been the ultimate telenova experience – just don’t mess with Mama Babawawa!
• Also, on television, Top Chef and Project Runway continue to captivate me – at least on Bravo’s reality shows the contestants actually have to use skills to do and make things…. Actually, in my crazy summer experimens to fuse Asian and Italian cuisine, I’ve perfected this Vietnamese Cilantro/Walnut recipe….
• I did my civic duty and served on a jury for some time recently, on a high profile and extremely nasty case, which made me both develop a new appreciation and deep cynicism about humanity at the same time – it’s an extraordinary and process.  Meanwhile, we got some serious stuff going down concerning the bizarre murder which took place two weeks ago and three blocks away on Swann Street.

Haha, I’m running out of steam already blogging again – baby steps, naman – next entry, Ozon and Visconti and my re-ignited fascination with Romy Schneider!